THE mum of a brave little girl who underwent three major brain operations before her first birthday is preparing to jump out of a plane for charity.

When Natalie Dines gave birth to her second daughter Maddison she believed she was a happy and healthy baby.

But two months later her family’s life was turned upside down when they discovered Maddison had hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up on the brain.

Natalie, 26, who lives in the Hythe, Colchester, said: “I was heartbroken.

“We were all absolutely devastated.

“I’ve never cried so much in my entire life, watching her being put under general anaesthetic.”

Natalie noticed something wrong when Maddison was eight-weeks-old.

She said: “I kept saying she doesn’t look right. Her head looked really big.”

During a check up she asked for her head to measured, and found it was 56cm – way above average.

Natalie said: “It was completely off the scale.”

They went straight to Colchester General Hospital, where a scan found parts of her brain were filled with fluid.

They were sent to Addenbrookes Hospital, but surgeons did not want to operate as it was not severe enough.

The family were sent home, but Maddison’s symptoms got worse.

Natalie said: “She was very sick, she wasn’t content at all.

“Within a few days it got worse and we went back to Addenbrookes.”

Maddison then had her first operation at three-months-old, which was to try to allow the fluid to drain naturally.

But the surgery was unsuccessful and in September she was back on the operating table having a shunt fitted.

The shunt featured a small tube to take liquid out of the brain and into the abdomen.

This also failed and Maddison had to go for a third operation just before her first birthday.

After a few more adjustments, the shunt was finally working and since then Maddison’s condition has improved.

Natalie, who has another daughter, Mollie, five, said: “She was a completely different child.

“It was amazing to see the difference. She’s bright as a button. You wouldn’t think there was anything wrong with her. We’re so proud of her.”

Now Natalie wants to do something for the charity Shine, which helps children with the condition.

On September 20 she will be skydiving, and is hoping to raise as much money for the cause as possible.

She said: “I just want to say thank you to the staff at Colchester General and Addenbrookes hospitals. If it wasn’t for them, she wouldn’t be doing as well as she is now.”

To sponsor her, visit just giving.com/Natalie-Dines